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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />DATE: September 16, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:00 P.M. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 483/Res. No. 303-25 <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution <br />No. 303-25, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 303-25, transmitted by Assistant Police Chief Sherry D. Bird via Communication No. 483, <br />dated August 13, 2025, authorizes the Mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the State of <br />Hawaii, the County of Kauai, the County of Maui, and the City and County of Honolulu for the statewide <br />multi jurisdictional drug task force. This resolution authorizes the Hawaii Police Department to enter into a <br />Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to interdict drugs via apprehension and arrest of individuals <br />smuggling and distributing illicit narcotics into the State. <br />Captain Edwin Buyten, commander of the Kona Vice Unit, was present in the Kona Chambers to speak on this <br />resolution and explained that this is an important MOU, as it allows County agencies to communicate with one <br />another to reduce drug crime. <br />Committee Member Rebecca Villegas asked Captain Buyten to share additional information about the amount <br />of narcotics that has been recovered in our County. Captain Buyten responded to say that our County's police <br />force is responsible for recovering 70 percent of the narcotics within the State. He said that recently both of our <br />County's Vice sections have been unified into one division. He added that meth, cocaine, and fentanyl were <br />recovered in large amounts. <br />Committee Member Michelle M. Galimba asked for clarity regarding whether the MOU is reviewed regularly <br />or just when updates occur. Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz said that this MOU was being updated <br />and that MOUs are supposed to be in effect, uninterrupted, unless there are updated changes initiated by either <br />ply. <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of <br />Resolution No. 303-25, and recommends its adoption. <br />slm <br />AYES <br />NOES <br />ABS <br />EX <br />GALIMBA <br />X <br />HUSTACE <br />X <br />INABA <br />X <br />KAGIWADA <br />X <br />KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER <br />X <br />KIERKIEWICZ <br />X <br />KIMBALL <br />X <br />ONISHI <br />X <br />VILLEGAS <br />X <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL <br />OPERATIONS AND <br />EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />JE KAGIW A, CHAIR <br />GOEAC REPORT NO.: 70 <br />ADOPTED: OCT 0 8 2025 <br />